Posts by Nancy Brin

Despite an average rating of indebtedness, and the fact that debt was due mostly to students loans, a large number of individuals are taking advantage of the bankruptcy system as a means to effectively manage their debt.

Alternatives for debt management

Because of the student debt situation, as well as the detrimental effect on credit ratings, bankruptcy is not the magic bullet one may expect. Before considering filing for bankruptcy, it may be wise to first consult with the local credit counseling agency. There are some credit counseling agencies where knowledgeable and trained counselors will have the tools to assess the financial situation correctly and give valuable advice on how to manage debt.

Counselors may also provide some assistance in negotiating debts with creditors. While this may not help with student loans, getting rid of or managing other debt such as credit card balances will ease the financial burden on the debtor and enable them to remain current on payments.

Deciding to move forward with bankruptcy

If the situation does call for bankruptcy, it is advisable to enlist the services of a bankruptcy attorney to help you with the process.

The idea of a robot performing surgery may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but in fact it is already being done. Of course, the robots in these procedures are still being controlled by doctors; the robots are merely sophisticated tools that do pretty much the same thing as a scalpel, retractors, and other traditional pieces of surgical equipment, only they are much more precise.

Recently, however, there has been a rise in claims of unnecessary injury following surgery being lodged against the doctors operating the robots and the manufacturers of the robots themselves. This is a matter of concern for hospitals who have admitted the intriguing but very expensive technology into their operating rooms. Advocates insist that there is nothing wrong with the robots; it is the human factor that has caused the injury due to a lack of training or skill.

Most hospitals acquire robots for surgery from Intuitive Surgical Inc. in California, so in case a defect in a robot causes injury to a patient in the U.S., a product liability claim, rather than a medical malpractice claim, would be needed. But if the surgeon is to blame because he or she lacked the training, knowledge, and expertise to operate the robot surgeon in a competent and effective manner, then that’s another matter. It would also be logical to assume that the hospital would be a co-defendant in a personal injury case.

Those who neither advocate nor oppose robot surgery but are concerned for the safety of patients urge for better disclosure of the risks to patients involved prior to surgery. Surgeon training is also emphasized, which is typically an inadequate 2-day orientation on the operation of the robot. There are some benefits to robotic surgery that are not found in traditional surgical methods, but without proper training, these benefits remain only in the realm of “potential.”

Lots of people like food with a little bit of kick to it, but don’t usually venture into the realms of exceptionally spicy peppers. The heat factor of a pepper is measured by the Scoville Scale.

Jalapenos are a relatively well-known pepper. They typically range between 3,500 and 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, and are unbearably hot to a lot of people. With this in mind, try to imagine a pepper that is more than 200 times hotter than the average jalapeno.

The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, the world’s hottest pepper, is just that. This pepper measures over 1.5 million Scoville Heat Units, a level of heat on par with police-grade pepper spray. Experts say that at around 800,000 Scovilles, there is a risk of being knocked onto the ground, unable to stand, for hours. Some people have even required hospitalization to recover from the intense effect that these peppers have on them.

Scorpion Butch T growers are always looking for new ways to pack even more punch into their peppers. Some ways they can do this are improving the soil or climate in which they grow their weapons-grade spices. They do not see themselves reaching an upper limit on heat for a long time. To learn more about the Scoville Scale and research into spiciness, visit the Chile Pepper Institute.

Accidents happen, but when it comes to car accidents, they can lead to devastating outcomes. Everyone has the responsibility to drive safely, and to take into consideration the lives of other motorists and everyone around them. However, this is not always the case, and as a result, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in America.

Because of the severity of an injury from a car accident, most victims seek compensation for their damages with the help of a car accident lawyer. However, it’s best overall to avoid accidents altogether. Here are some tips for staying safe on the road:

Keep your car well-maintained– regular check-ups and tune-ups could not only save you money, but also ensure that all the gears are in proper working condition, and any part that shows signs of wear and tear are replaced.

Maintain a steady, reliable speed – this is essential, as erratic driving can be dangerous to you and to other drivers as well.

Maintain a safe distance from other motorists – this ensures you have enough space to move around and avoid possible crashes.

Stay visible to other motorists – bad weather, night driving, and driving next to huge vehicles (such as 18-wheeler trucks) could cause accidents because of low visibility.

Avoid speeding and road rage – speeding can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, while road rage can lower awareness of other drivers and could cause you to do something you might later regret.

Check your mirrors and pay close attention at intersections – intersections are notorious places for car crashes, so it’s best to be careful while approaching an intersection and drive with care. Checking your mirror helps you to ensure your safe distance from other cars, avoid blind spots, and make changing lanes safer.

Avoid distractions – taking your attention off of the road even for a moment can cause you to miss a crossing pedestrian, animal, road signal, or road work crew.

Don’t drink and drive – this is one of the leading causes of car crashes. Drugs, alcohol, or medication can impair your judgment.

NuvaRing is a tiny elastic ring used as a contraceptive device. Due to its convenience, this contraceptive device, which entered the US market in 2001, easily won the favor of hundreds of thousands of women in the US. NuvaRing was originally designed to release controlled amounts of the estrogen Ethinyl Estradiol and the progestin Etonogestrel into the female’s bloodstream. Etonogestrel, which is a type of Desogestrel, is a third-generation progestin. Unfortunately, this progestin is known to increase the possibility of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and other complications.

Like other birth control methods that make use of hormones to prevent pregnancy, use of NuvaRing has the potential to lead to serious health problems. In fact, one of the most severe complications suffered by women who have used the product is pulmonary embolism, which causes extreme pain and which can lead to death.

Cause of Pulmonary Embolism

One serious side-effect associated with NuvaRing is deep vein thrombosis – blood clots occurring in the legs or pelvis. Deep vein thromboses can, sometimes, become so large that they burst, scattering smaller pieces into the bloodstream. These pieces are small enough to travel through the bloodstream and reach the lungs, where they can get stuck and create an obstruction in major arteries. This blockage is what is termed a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism is a complication resulting from deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Even healthy people are not necessarily safe from this complication. Although life-threatening, effective treatment to prevent blood-clotting can significantly reduce the risk of death. Also, measures that will stop blood clots from developing inside your legs will help save you from pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism may be detected as women suffering from it will feel abrupt and unexplained shortness of breath, chest pains and dizziness; its other symptoms include coughing up of blood and a blue tint on the lips and fingers.

Pulmonary embolism ought to be treated without delay. If you or anyone in your family is suffering from this medical condition, or any other complications caused by NuvaRing, seek medical treatment and then call a highly qualified NuvaRing lawyer who will assist you in filing a lawsuit to get the compensation that you rightly deserve.